Mural of Ellie and Becky Downie's brother who died suddenly aged 24 unveiled in Sneinton Market

A mural dedicated to a talented Nottingham sportsman who died suddenly aged just 24 has been unveiled in the city as part of a new campaign by the British Heart Foundation to raise awareness of sudden cardiac death.

The striking piece of street art in Sneinton Market depicts Josh Downie, the brother of Olympic gymnasts Ellie and Becky Downie MBEs. Josh, who was born in Nottingham, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest whilst playing cricket in May 2021 at a ground in Liverpool.

CPR was attempted and he was taken to hospital, but nothing could be done to save him. A post-mortem revealed that Josh was living with an inherited heart condition called arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), but this had been undiagnosed.

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Becky Downie, Josh's brother said: “You hear about things like this happening – but you never, ever think it’s going to happen to your family.

“Josh was just a happy, bubbly person and his personality really shone through. Since his passing, everyone who knew him has been saying he was just one of those people who made a big impact everywhere he went. He was also really caring and wanted to help people wherever he could.

“It was a massive shock losing Josh and I remember just feeling really confused. It was so completely out of the blue."

Football was Josh’s priority when he was younger and he was a devoted Chelsea supporter. However, his focus shifted towards cricket as a teenager.

Josh moved to Liverpool about a year before his death to teach sports at a school for underprivileged children.

After his passing, his family had the chance to meet young people whose lives he had changed for the better.

Josh, who was one of five children, was raised in an athletic household. His immediate family were screened for ACM, but there were no instant signs of the condition.

They say they will continue to be monitored throughout their lives.

Becky added: “Obviously one of the biggest shocks was hearing that there was a 50/50 chance we could also have the condition – especially being athletes and having to think about how it would affect our careers.

“My understanding now is that ACM is a condition that can present later in life, so we’ll just continue to be monitored and tested. But I guess the positive thing is that at least we have an awareness of it and an understanding of the condition now.

"If it’s diagnosed at least it can be managed.

“I think Josh would be proud of the mural, and it was emotional to see it in person. Josh was a massive part of our family and always will be - and we just want to keep his legacy alive.”

The Downies now use their platforms to raise awareness of heart conditions. Ellie and her brother Alex took on the BHF’s London to Brighton Bike Ride on 16 June, raising funds for more research into heart and circulatory diseases.

Josh’s mural is one of 12 unveiled across the country as part of the BHF campaign. Just days after the UEFA Euro 2024 kick-off, the mural, which shows Myles in an England T-shirt with the slogan ‘England ‘til I died,' was unveiled.

Each week, 12 young people under the age of 35 are lost to sudden cardiac death in the UK. However, new research from the BHF reveals that the nation is largely unaware of the devastating effect heart disease has on young people.

A nationally representative survey has revealed that over a quarter of Brits (27%) don’t believe a heart condition can affect you if you are aged under 35.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said: "Too many lives, like Josh’s, are being taken too soon by sudden cardiac death. No one should have to experience the loss of their child, sibling, or parent, but sadly that is the cruel reality of heart disease – it doesn’t discriminate.

“As the nation celebrates the UEFA Euro 2024, these powerful murals serve as a reminder of the young football fans that have been snatched away by sudden cardiac death, and we want to thank the families who have kindly agreed to share their stories. The BHF is already carrying out ground-breaking research to treat and prevent the causes of sudden cardiac death, but there is still more to do. We urgently need donations to help us fund more lifesaving research to prevent other families from going through this heartbreak.”

To donate to the British Heart Foundation today, visit bhf.org.uk/untilidied